Delightful follow-up to one of my faves, The Fourteenth Goldfish. Melvin is back, Ellie has a cat, possibly a crush, and a new science partner. Holm tDelightful follow-up to one of my faves, The Fourteenth Goldfish. Melvin is back, Ellie has a cat, possibly a crush, and a new science partner. Holm touches on puberty in the lightest, most accessible of ways, and provides a great read for kids not interested in too much romance. Her relationships feel fully-formed and realistic, just right for grade 4-6 readers. ...more

Another fab middle grade story from Susin Nielsen. A thoughtful examination of homelessness and family dynamics, with plenty of great characters, one-Another fab middle grade story from Susin Nielsen. A thoughtful examination of homelessness and family dynamics, with plenty of great characters, one-liners, and hope. ...more

Reading this book was a bittersweet experience. Sweet, because it's The Penderwicks and therefore automatically a wonderful read, and bitter, becauseReading this book was a bittersweet experience. Sweet, because it's The Penderwicks and therefore automatically a wonderful read, and bitter, because it's the last book in the series and I'm never ready to say goodbye to The Penderwicks. The book centres around Lydia, who is now a tween, and visiting the fabled Arundel for the first time on the occasion on Rosalind's wedding (!!!) It is a tad surreal to have the original Penderwicks range in age from 19-30, but Lydia and Alice are wonderfully-drawn, endearing characters all on their own and carry the story well. I am very sorry that this series is ending, but so grateful to have known and loved The Penderwicks. ...more

I love verse novels for their musicality, emotional potency, and voice. It is no surprise to me that Heather Smith, who delivers these things in her pI love verse novels for their musicality, emotional potency, and voice. It is no surprise to me that Heather Smith, who delivers these things in her prose, would also be a fantastic free verse writer. This is a lovely, sad, ultimately hopeful story about a boy who has made a terrible mistake and is spending the summer with his Grandmother in Newfoundland to get some perspective and hopefully forgive himself. Jett's relationship with his "cotton candy" grandmother is very tender and she is exactly the person he needs right now. My heart ached for Jett and his friend Junior, who is in a particularly hard familial situation. A thoughtful book about hard truths and the journey to forgiveness. ...more

This is a classic ghost story with a generations-old mystery and a slightly newer mystery dovetailing nicely in a surprise twist. All the hallmarks ofThis is a classic ghost story with a generations-old mystery and a slightly newer mystery dovetailing nicely in a surprise twist. All the hallmarks of classic kids' horror are here: an abandoned house, a mysterious necklace, a major discovery made thanks to the help of the library, and an overnight trip with terrifying consequences. Kids will love the chills and thrills of the novel, but I also loved how Summer's End took me right back to summer, with long bike rides, trips to the corner store for candy, and dying of heatstroke during baseball games. For fans of the author's award-winning Haunted Canada, The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier and Marina Cohen's Inn Between or Doll's Eye....more

French horns, carrier pigeons and Dairy Wars! Colour me charmed! A sweet story about a girl who is sent to live with a grandmother she has yet to meetFrench horns, carrier pigeons and Dairy Wars! Colour me charmed! A sweet story about a girl who is sent to live with a grandmother she has yet to meet in Maine in the early 40s. Gusta's father may or may not be on the run for being a labor organizer, a secret Gusta keeps hidden as her classmates (and town in general) seems preoccupied with what it means to be a 'real' American and rooting out alien citizens in the shadow of the war in Europe. Sadly, this thread is resonant today. But Gusta makes friends with her cousin and fellow 'orphan' Josie and the girls form a band with hopes of winning a ribbon at the local fair. Lots here about family, community, and wonderful prose about hope and music. Nesbet has a lovely turn of phrase and there are memorable bits here, such as Josie's desire to prove that music is 'real as jam,' meaning music can win ribbons just like jam, which is considered more worthwhile. A great read for fans of The Penderwicks, The War That Saved My Life, and the All of a Kind Family. ...more

This dark fantasy novel set in the caribbean will delight readers who enjoy their stories dark and magical. Baptiste's island setting is vivid and a bThis dark fantasy novel set in the caribbean will delight readers who enjoy their stories dark and magical. Baptiste's island setting is vivid and a breath of fresh air in the often too-familiar worlds of middle grade fantasy (vaguely medieval, magic schools, dragons). Corinne is a formidable but relatable protagonist and her band of unlikely heroes battle great stakes. The biggest villain is the woman in green, who has ensnared Corinne's single father and is intent of taking Corinne (and the island) for her own. Fans of Coraline will appreciate this dark other mother figure and will find new magical beings to love (or fear) in Baptiste's rich work. ...more

What an absolute delight to read! Malu (Maria-Luisa) is not thrilled to be moving with "SuperMexican" (aka mom) to Chicago, away from her record-storeWhat an absolute delight to read! Malu (Maria-Luisa) is not thrilled to be moving with "SuperMexican" (aka mom) to Chicago, away from her record-store owning dad who understands her love of punk music much more than her professor-mother does. Her complicated relationship with her mixed heritage is a problem most days, but at her new-school Malu's poor Spanish and dislike of cilantro sets her apart from her classmates in an even bigger way. This middle grade novel is brimming with personality. Malu is smart, sassy, artistic, and although she struggles with her identity, she is never anything but herself. This is a great book about self-expression with absolutely zero condescension. The characters were all vivid, funny, true-to-life people. I particularly loved the parent-child relationships in this book which are prickly at times, but always loving. Malu's own zines are included and will likely inspire readers to pick up their own pair of scissors and get creating. What a gem! ...more

THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE is a hard act to follow but I think I have liked this follow-up even more! The bonds of family and friendship are tested anTHE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE is a hard act to follow but I think I have liked this follow-up even more! The bonds of family and friendship are tested and strengthened again as the war continues to wreak havoc on Ada's life. Bradley does not shy away from writing about Ada's anger and confusion and her supporting cast is fully realized and allowed story arcs of their own. I was particularly touched by the portrayal of Lady Thornton, forced to live in close quarters with Ada and her new family, who has moments of utter ignorance and borderline cruelty yet grew into one of my favourite characters at the end. There is a touch of Frances Hodgson Burnett about this duology- not to be missed! ...more

Never enough Harriet for me. This one takes on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, introducing us to a whole host of new rodent characters with fairytale-sNever enough Harriet for me. This one takes on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, introducing us to a whole host of new rodent characters with fairytale-sized problems. Thank goodness for Harriet, Mumphrey & co!...more

The premise is a throwback to classic late 80s & early 90s contemporary middle grade, the kind of literature Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin and Paula DThe premise is a throwback to classic late 80s & early 90s contemporary middle grade, the kind of literature Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger were writing about; everyday kids dealing with everyday situations. Both Naomis are “average” kids, if I can use such a vague term here. No one has suffered major trauma or has significant hardships. They both have loving families and friends. But despite the classic “issue” driven premise, this is modern New York City. The girls have cell phones, attend a coding class, and use Skype.

The big challenge here is to distinguish between the two Naomis. The reader will have no trouble doing so. Naomi E is an only child, Naomi-Marie has a (very precocious) little sister. Naomi E is white, Naomi-Marie is black, this obvious differences leads to a funny moment when Naomi Marie’s little sister Bree suggests they solve the two Naomi problem by calling them “Black Naomi” and “White Naomi.” I love Naomi E’s skepticism, her caution when it comes to friendship or big decisions, her tendency to be sarcastic. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly and doesn’t excite easily. Naomi Marie on the other hand is enthusiasm personified. She is a joiner, a leader, and very competitive. The girls’ personalities may be different but are quite complimentary, something they come to learn (and appreciate) over time.

This isn’t a story about divorce causing irreparable damage to a child. The parent-kid relationships are very positive. Both Naomis’ sets of parents are quite civil and seem to have had amicable divorces. Although Naomi Marie lives with her mother, she sees her father frequently. Naomi E’s mother is away in LA working in film, and her absence is definitely felt by her daughter and is the root of some of her anxieties. They Skype, but Naomi E is starting to crack with the longing to see her mother, and plans are made for that to happen.

There is something fascinating about peeking behind the curtain of someone else’s home life. I felt like this reading Two Naomis. This is a funny, frank and positive exploration of how two tweens deal with their parents’ dating....more

What a delightful reading experience this was! The voice is pitch-perfect, as are the ever-shifting loyalties and relationships of the characters. VaiWhat a delightful reading experience this was! The voice is pitch-perfect, as are the ever-shifting loyalties and relationships of the characters. Vail is skilled at mining the adolescent experience in a cringe-worthy, aw-honey kind of way, but never, ever talks down to her audience. The NYC setting, cast of characters and relationships made me think of Goodbye Stranger, but with a heavier dose of comedy. Like Stead, Vail showcases city kids who aren't the children of upper crust Manhattan society. There is a touch of Cyrano de Bergerac here, but the reader doesn't need to be familiar with the reference to enjoy the story. Will definitely be on my top of 2017 lists ...more

Oh what a beauty of a heartbreaker this book is. There are lots of references in the promo materials (and many, many blurbs) to The Secret Garden, andOh what a beauty of a heartbreaker this book is. There are lots of references in the promo materials (and many, many blurbs) to The Secret Garden, and Shepherd definitely succeeds in creating a classic, snuggle-in-and-read feel. Emmaline is staying in a children's hospital in the English countryside that was once a Princess' house. There are winged horses in the mirror-world that no one else can see, and a real one in the sundial garden that no one else can know about. Lots of great stuff going on in this spare, evocative slice of WWII magic realism. Despite death, war, and anger, the book still feels tinged with beauty and wonder. One of my fave middle grade reads of the year. For fans of horsey books (The Little White Horse in particular), and also Pax, The War That Saved My Life and Circus Mirandus. ...more

1928, Brooklyn. Martha is the daughter of a housekeeper who has started working in the home of newspaper magnate Mr. Sewell. Martha accompanies her mo1928, Brooklyn. Martha is the daughter of a housekeeper who has started working in the home of newspaper magnate Mr. Sewell. Martha accompanies her mother only to get caught up in a mystery surrounding his wife, Rose. In her youth Rose was a charming party girl, but now she spends her days ranting and raving about paintings in a locked bedroom. What happened to Rose? Why is she obsessed with the paintings? And who is leaking stories about the Sewells- some of them untrue- to the tabloids?

From the first chapter we understand that Martha is a girl with modern ideas. She talks back to her teacher (a rather unforgiving nun), is suspicious of Mr. Sewell’s charm and intentions, and takes the side of woman most people have dismissed as mad. Her dialogue is saucy and her devotion to the truth is inspiring, which will speak to readers’ strong sense of justice. There is a cinematic quality to the narrative and Fitzgerald uses visual and historical details to paint a clear portrait of 1920s New York. There is glitz in the form of Sewell’s mansion , but there is also poverty- represented by Martha’s own crowded apartment and her mother’s dashed optimism. But perhaps the most impressive feat is how Fitzgerald deftly handles a narrative that is essentially about involuntary confinement and turns it into a caper. Rose’s story has parallels to the suffragette movement and is a grim reminder of the challenges women faced at the time. This historical caper feels fresh and exciting, thanks to a breezy writing style and excellent pacing. ...more

The Inn Between reads like The Shining for middle grade readers. Quinn and Kara are on a cross-country road trip when Kara’s family decides to stop ovThe Inn Between reads like The Shining for middle grade readers. Quinn and Kara are on a cross-country road trip when Kara’s family decides to stop over at hotel called The Inn Between, located in the middle of the desert. The hotel is described as an ornate Victorian building with a pool, incredible pizza and limitless breakfast. But Quinn feels uneasy and soon the creepier things about the hotel come to the surface. Like how some people are allowed on the elevator and others are not. Or the angry-eyed man who keeps showing up. And when Kara’s parents and her brother disappear, Quinn takes a good hard look at the hotel and what it means to be “in between.”

Cohen’s pace and timing is excellent. There are some deeper implications here- letting go, moving on, grief- but this isn’t a realistic contemporary fiction book about loss, it’s a horror story with shades of realism in it. Cohen does not get caught up in blocks of description or too much philosophizing. Realizations dawn on the reader just as they dawn on Quinn. This is a satisfying, page-turning horror story with just enough gravitas to elevate it out of campy Goosebumps territory....more

Raymie Clarke’s father has run off with a dental hygienist. She is convinced if she does something spectacular- such as win the Little Miss Central FlRaymie Clarke’s father has run off with a dental hygienist. She is convinced if she does something spectacular- such as win the Little Miss Central Florida pageant- he will see her in the paper and come back. Raymie’s story (abandoned by a parent) is not uncommon, but DiCamillo’s greatest gift is the ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. In her deft hands a baton, a jar of candy corn, even a swamp becomes something tinged with wonder.

My favourite Kate DiCamillo novel is Tiger Rising, which I think gets lost in the mega-bestselling, highly-decorated books such as Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn Dixie and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Tiger Rising is a very simple narrative about poor children leading hard lives and stumbling upon something so unexpected it feels magical. DiCamillo revisits this idea in Raymie Nightingale. In Tiger Rising, the unexpected is an honest-to-goodness tiger in the woods. In Raymie Nightingale, it is friendship.

Raymie’s new friends, prickly Beverly and painfully optimistic Louisiana have burdens of their own. They are all desperate to be heard and understood, but have been made cautious by past disappointments. There is real sadness here, but as always in a DiCamillo book, hope triumphs over all. Of all the hurting characters in this book, I worried the most for Louisiana. Of all the girls, her situation is the most dire, and yet she is the most hopeful. But even when things looked very bad, I trust DiCamillo to not only point out, but buff up the silver lining.

If I could narrow down the one thing common to DiCamillo’s range of work it would be her warmth. Whether she is writing fantasy, realistic contemporary, early readers or historical fiction (which is technically what Raymie Nightingale, set in the 1970s, falls under) genuine warmth for her characters, for her readers, for people permeates the language....more

Tink Aaron-Martin is a modern gal, complete with a bi-racial family, a sibling with autism, and a hyphenated last name. She is quirky without being twTink Aaron-Martin is a modern gal, complete with a bi-racial family, a sibling with autism, and a hyphenated last name. She is quirky without being twee, and completely relatable. Her voice and personality is the strongest part of the book. She is quietly confident and author Karen Rivers does an excellent job of exploring the pain of a tween friendship in crisis.

Over the course of the book Tink begins to realize that her best friend Freddie Blue is not actually all that nice, or that much of a friend. The realization is slow and Tink struggles with it. I loved the authenticity of this relationship. Although Rivers’ solution was a bit too neatly tied up for my liking, it does provide closure and reassurance and will likely resonate with young readers.

Although the structure of the novel is a cute idea, at times it didn’t work for me. Some entries felt too tangential and others felt contrived. It also complicated the overall narrative and made it feel bulky instead of a streamlined plot. It did fit Tink’s personality and I loved her voice so much that it didn’t take away from my enjoyment too much. Readers who enjoy stories about contemporary girls, such as The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, my books, and the work of Susin Nielsen will loved The Encyclopedia of Me....more

Kallie George’s two greatest gifts as an author are invention and turns of phrase. This is a series populated with fairy horses, magical eggs, grimalkKallie George’s two greatest gifts as an author are invention and turns of phrase. This is a series populated with fairy horses, magical eggs, grimalkins (aka magic kittens) and more. Clover’s job feels totally plausible (mucking out stalls, preparing food, looking after the adoption book), but is made delightful by a few clever, creative twists. George’s light but assured tone coupled with her imagination brings to mind Cynthia Rylant’s work, particularly The Van Gogh Cafe.

There is an assumption that all children love goofy, uproarious, gross-out humour and that this is the only way to hook a child on reading. This is a bit reductive, and I believe children also respond to invention. Who doesn’t love to be delighted? I can’t think of another series more winsome or delightful. There are definitely moments of humour in The Enchanted Egg, but it’s a gentler comedy, one based on word play (fairy-spitting fickle corns!) and classic fairy-tale charm. The fun extends to the official website, featuring activities, a cast of magical creatures, and many cute extras....more

The Story of Diva and Flea reads like a dream and feels like a classic.

I love Mo Willems. His characters are exuberant and his sense of humour rangesThe Story of Diva and Flea reads like a dream and feels like a classic.

I love Mo Willems. His characters are exuberant and his sense of humour ranges from slapstick to dead-pan. If the Elephant and Piggie series doesn’t make kids want to read I’m not sure anything will. The latest installment in the Elephant and Piggie early reader series, I Really Like Slop, might be my favourite children’s book title of all time. Willem’s humour is ever-present in this very different story of a stray cat and a pampered dog who become friends, but this is a surprisingly tender and poignant Willems.

Whether they realize it or not, both Diva and Flea are lonely. Diva, a dog who is described as “smaller than a person’s foot” is afraid of feet and therefore never ventures outside her Parisienne courtyard. Flea, a self-described “Flaneur,” fears going indoors, as he has traumatic memories of a broom incident. They eventually become friends and Flea teaches Diva to be a brave like him and Diva teaches Flea that indoors can be nice, especially if there is Breck-fest of Luh-nch.

There is an Oliver & Company* feeling to the story, with a streetwise cat and a pampered dog, but Willems gives these stock characters both depth and warmth. Flea is gentle with Diva and tries not to hurt her feelings. Diva is patient with Flea and generous with her food and person, Eva. Their friendship almost feels like a love story, and Tony DiTerlizzi’s spot illustrations give a sense of a classic French movie, with scenes of manicured gardens, gargoyles, the Eiffel tower and cafe-lined streets.

The consistent use of flaneur as a verb (“Do you see me? I’m flaneur-ing”) will make children giggle, as will the animals’ observations of life. For example, upon seeing people exiting out of metro trains, Flea muses “So that’s where people come from.” Much of the humour comes from the nature of the animals and how they misunderstand each other. In one of my favourite scenes, Diva discovers a dead mouse on her doorstep, a present left by Flea as an apology. By way of thank you, Diva says “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. But, in the future, bring me a small piece of ribbon please.”

In one of the final scenes, Flea teaches Diva how to “meet new Feet.” This sweet scene reminded me of the classic book Catwings, in which the winged kittens are told to seek out “Gentle Hands.” Flea instructs Diva to sit at the feet and say meow (she says woof instead) and wait for the “wondrous thing.” That thing is a pat on the head, which Diva describes as “wondrous indeed.”...more

So what happens when your ex-best friend, current enemy, dies? Suzy does not know how to mourn Franny. It has been ages since they were anything evenSo what happens when your ex-best friend, current enemy, dies? Suzy does not know how to mourn Franny. It has been ages since they were anything even resembling friends, but the last memory she has of Franny is a sad one; Franny in tears as a result of the “big message” Suzy sent to her. Suzy is guilty, confused, and does not know what to do with herself. So she stops talking and becomes obsessed with jellyfish, concocting a theory that Franny was killed by a jellyfish sting and then setting out to prove it.

Through flashback, we see how Franny changes and the devastating effect it has on Suzy. The death of a child is always tragic, but this book is more about the death of a friendship rather than a person. The moments of greatest sadness and empathy for me were ones where Franny or Suzy were intentionally hurting each other. Lots of books talk about bullying but rare is the middle grade novel that goes into such excruciating detail about the cruelties soon to be former friends inflict on each other. There is no sting like the sting of betrayal, and Franny and Suzy are engaged in a cold war anyone who has been a twelve year old girl will recognize. Exclusionary tactics, whispering, cruel names, cold shoulders, public humiliation and the airing of private information are all weapons in the arsenal of warring tweens.

Suzy is an odd duck and she knows it. She feels behind her peers in terms of the traditional bench markers of adolescence yet feels superior in intelligence. She is lonely but can’t trust the friendly advances of misunderstood lab partner, Justin, a classic middle grade crush. Her interest in science reminded me a tad of Ellie from Jennifer Holm’s wonderful The Fourteen Goldfish. Very different narratives, but similar protagonists. I like these thoughtful, science-minded and goal-oriented heroines. Let this be something we see more of in middle grade fiction.

At times the piece-y format of the narrative felt a bit clunky and broke up the flow of the story, but overall I loved Ali Benjamin‘s insight into the mind of a growing, grieving tween. Suzy is a victim but she inflicts some pretty brutal blows of her own, which is a reality that is often ignored or omitted in fiction. Here is a complicated, crunchy and authentic character. I like how Benjamin makes strong choices in Suzy’s actions. Readers will want to wrap her into a hug at one moment, and then shake her at another. When Suzy is weird she is WEIRD, but she is also lovable and totally unforgettable....more

The Fitzgerald-Trouts are a family of loosely related siblings living in a car on a tropical island full of (delightfully) terrible adults. They are fThe Fitzgerald-Trouts are a family of loosely related siblings living in a car on a tropical island full of (delightfully) terrible adults. They are fully capable of looking after themselves, but the one thing they would love is a house to call their own. This first book in a new series does a great job setting up the world of the Fitzgerald Trouts, which is just the slightest bit fantastical. The story is lovingly told by a narrator who walks into the story as a character about half way through the book in a delightful twist.

Spalding’s storytelling is effortless and breezy. Her adult characters would be at home in a Dahl novel but the reader never worries about the Fitzgerald Trouts, who are just too darn resourceful and and devoted to each other to raise any alarm bells. I adored their ingenuity and devotion to each other. Sydney Smith’s accompanying illustrations are spare and whimsical, like the island itself. This book is as summery as sand between your toes and sticky, melty-popsicle hands. ...more

A clever, funny and total charmer of a book. This first novel in a young middle grade series introduces us to Clover, an unlucky girl who desperatelyA clever, funny and total charmer of a book. This first novel in a young middle grade series introduces us to Clover, an unlucky girl who desperately wants a pet. Her wishes are answered- and then some- when she responds to an ad and finds herself a job working at an adoption agency for magical animals. George's narration is sweet but never cloying, and readers will be delighted at her practical approach and solutions for dealing with the most impractical and imaginative of creatures. Her turn of phrase sets the book a cut above other series of a similar ilk, and George chooses to connect with her reader through emotional engagement rather than the slapstick humour that often characterizes early chapter book series. Clover ad Mr. Jams are tender souls and the story, while suspenseful, is never dark. It would make a fantastic read aloud for young children and first chapter book for children not quite ready for big fantasy tomes such as Harry Potter....more

Middle grade fiction isn’t always gentle or fantastical. Sometimes it can be downright moody, icky, and gross. Thank goodness. Puberty is rarely gentlMiddle grade fiction isn’t always gentle or fantastical. Sometimes it can be downright moody, icky, and gross. Thank goodness. Puberty is rarely gentle or magical, so why should fiction tackling the subject be?In Something Wiki, we get a peek inside the mind and body of tween Jo Waller. Each chapter opens with a wikipedia entry that our young narrator has edited to suit her own experiences. This is Jo in a nutshell- internet-savvy, smart, and just entering that phase of tweendom where she is keenly, physically aware of herself.

It is clear that Canadian author Suzanne Sutherland remembers what it is to be a tween. This is a very physical book and there are lots of discussions about the physical experience of adolescence. The kind that make adults cringe and tweens go YES, MORE, PLEASE! Jo is constantly concerned about her acne, the treatment of which runs through the whole book like a low-grade fever. There is also lots of blood, but not the guts and gore kind, the everyday kind- from stepping on a tack, to pimples that have popped, to good old once a month menstrual blood.

One of the things I love best about middle grade is the navigation of relationships. Jo is in the middle of some mean girl games in addition to hard-core adulation of her older brother, a very cool musician with a downtown apartment. I love how much Jo looks up to her big brother and his girlfriend. When she discovers her brother’s girlfriend is pregnant, she starts to think more about sex and also comes to realize that they are both people with problems who make mistakes- not these big, cool, unattainable gods she has worked them up to be in her mind.

I also like the glimpses of Toronto, something Sutherland did well in her debut novel When We Were Good. So much middle grade seems to be set in small-town, middle-of-somewhere North America (something I am guilty of) but here we are firmly in downtown Toronto. Urban readers will appreciate a glimpse of their lifestyle and rural or suburban readers get all the fun of experiencing the truth of city life (still pretty boring when you’re underage). Other than Susin Nielsen, who sets her novels in Vancouver, not many Canadian kids’ writers use major Canadian cities as a backdrop.

With short chapters, lots of believable dialogue and a breezy pace, young readers will fly through Something Wiki before passing it off to their friends....more

There is a hint of The Fox and the Hound in this narrative about a boy who must turn his beloved Fox who is thoroughly domesticated loose in the wild.There is a hint of The Fox and the Hound in this narrative about a boy who must turn his beloved Fox who is thoroughly domesticated loose in the wild. The opening chapter, in which Peter is forced to leave Pax at the side of the road and drive off with his father, cuts deep and lets the reader know that they are in for some emotional reading. Pax’s loyalty, good heart, and ignorance of both the wilderness and war makes him both martyr and potential victim, yet it is these same qualities that allow him to grow and ultimately triumph.

At times I was far more worried about Peter- wracked with guilt, trying desperately to not turn out like his angry, violent father, and truly alone in the world- until he meets Vola. An ex-soldier, sequestering herself in the woods partially to come to terms with her actions and partially to remember who she was before the war, Vola constantly references the “cost” of war. The war that is coming is never defined, but one gets the sense that it is happening now. Pennypacker deftly illustrates this cost on the land and wildlife, something that I think is often overlooked in books. Pax’s experiences and descriptions of burnt grass and soiled water hammer the message home. A convincing argument could be made that people are bad, and Pax’s new friend Bristle certainly has many reasons why she doesn’t trust them. But Peter proves that some people can be trusted, that fox and people can coexist. If only we could get over our inclination towards war.

Pax is not an easy book. Bones and hearts break and heavy truths are learned. But it is beautiful and moving. Fair warning to anyone who has loved a pet, some sections will be hard to read. I found myself on the verge of tears for much of Pax. But don’t be afraid of an emotional read- in fact we should be telling children not to be afraid of an emotional read. True catharsis through reading is rare but powerful....more

Throw a mix of characters into a small space and you have a great set-up for drama. Make that space an underground mining colony on Mars under attackThrow a mix of characters into a small space and you have a great set-up for drama. Make that space an underground mining colony on Mars under attack and you’ve got a set up for GREAT drama. Kevin Sylvester is an award-winning author-illustrator of nonfiction for kids, picture books, and middle grade fiction. He is also the host of the podcast Great Kids, Great Reads, in which he interviews indie booksellers about children’s books. He is perhaps best known for his smart-alec, verbose kid chef-turned-detective Neil Flambe, the star in a series that is as much humour as it is mystery. With this new series , Sylvester proves he can also write sci-fi adventure.

Christopher is a reluctant but capable leader, which endears him to the reader and eventually the other MiNRs. He is kept honest by Elena, his best friend who is obsessed with military history, and Fatima, a wry and skeptical new ally who’s existence makes Christopher question everything he thought he new about his home and Melming Mining. Chris is not quite an everyman character, he has been taught to drive a digger by his father, for example, but he isn’t the kind of stock protagonist to which heroism and ingenuity comes naturally. The dialogue is snappy and allows Sylvester’s natural knack for comedy to peek through heavy situations.

The plot moves quickly and makes for one-sitting reading. Sylvester doesn’t languish at any point or get bogged down in losses or too much melancholy. The MiNRs are engaged in a race against time, and it feels like it to the reader. This is high-stakes sci-fi, lives are lost, alliances broken, but the tone still feels relatively light and appropriate for younger readers...more

This is the kind of book you need to press into the hands of everyone you know and say "read this so we can talk about it." It is warm, reassuring, riThis is the kind of book you need to press into the hands of everyone you know and say "read this so we can talk about it." It is warm, reassuring, ridiculous, poignant, and totally weird. At times I was reminded of the movie Big, but it says a lot about the book that I cannot think of a specific comp nor can I think of someone who would not love it. Like the humour of Diary of a Wimpy Kid? You'll love The Fourteenth Goldfish. Prefer stories about friendship and growing up ala Wendy Mass or Rebecca Stead? Look no further! Only like books about magic or fantastical things? Voila!

At 190 pages and featuring short chapters and largish font, this is a feat of brevity, especially considering how rich the book is. Without giving too much away, I was worried we were veering into Flowers for Algernon territory, but Holm gracefully skirts an explosive or maudlin conclusion in favour of a mysterious one. I cannot express how skilful this ending is. Not quite science fiction, not straight up contemporary realism, this is contemporary fiction with a twist- a woefully inadequate way to describe a unique and compelling book.

This was a fun, zippy read with an instantly compelling concept. Two girls create a comic called Princess X,, just for themselves. Libby dies in a carThis was a fun, zippy read with an instantly compelling concept. Two girls create a comic called Princess X,, just for themselves. Libby dies in a car accident and three years later the comic ends up online and the star, Princess X, is on stickers, backpacks, and painted on underpasses in Seattle. May wonders how Princess X came to life when the boxes were supposedly destroyed, and if Princess X is alive, is Libby alive, too? This is a great concept for a mystery. I loved the backstory of Princess X and how it was represented graphically, in fact I wished there were more of the comic. Although this is teen, I think middle grade readers would appreciate the pacing and dialogue, which keeps the story moving quickly. I would have liked a bit more backstory and depth in terms of what happens to both Libby and May and how they deal with this emotionally, but this would have slowed the narrative and created a very different book. Something about the urban setting, premise, and stand out female characters made me think of Kiersten Miller's Kiki Strike books. I would say this is perfect for grade 6-9 readers looking for a fun, breezy summer mystery....more

I think I could read about Delphine and her sisters for the rest of my life, but alas this is the third and final book in Williams-Garcia's near-perfeI think I could read about Delphine and her sisters for the rest of my life, but alas this is the third and final book in Williams-Garcia's near-perfect trilogy about the Gaither sisters growing up black in the late 1960s. Williams-Garcia manages to touch on an astonishing number of major political and historical issues without it feeling forced. In Gone Crazy in Alabama the girls are spending their summer with their grandmother and great-grandmother on their farm in Alabama along with cousin JimmyTrotter, two milking cows, and a bunch of chickens. Over the summer, an old family rivalry is revealed, Fern finds vegetarianism, and Delphine sees yet another side of her absentee poet mother, Cecile. The characters in this series feel as real to me as my own friends. Their voices and mannerisms are so distinct that I kept finding myself thinking "typical Vonetta," or "That's so Fern" despite the fact that they are fictional. This book had a lot more talking in the form of family history which made it feel a bit slower than the more action-packed One Crazy Summer or P.S. Be Eleven. However, if you're like me and will read anything Williams-Garcia writes, it's a delight from start to finish. ...more